bring to
B2 neutral separable transitive
In simple words
To wake someone up who has fainted or passed out, or to make a boat stop moving.
Literal meaning: To physically bring something or someone to a point or position — the idiomatic leap is that 'to' here means 'to consciousness' or 'to a stop'.
Meanings
1 B2
idiomatic
neutral
To cause an unconscious person to regain consciousness.
"The nurse used smelling salts to bring the fainting woman to."
Grammar: separable
2 C1
idiomatic
neutral
(Nautical) To cause a vessel to stop or come to a standstill by turning it into the wind.
"The captain ordered the crew to bring the schooner to before entering the narrow harbour."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
In the sense of reviving someone, the object (the person) is typically placed between 'bring' and 'to' (e.g., 'bring him to'). The nautical sense is specialized and encountered mainly in sailing contexts.
Commonly used with
smelling salts consciousness senses helm ship patient
Forms
Base
bring to
I/you/we/they
3rd person
brings to
he/she/it
Past simple
brought to
yesterday
Past participle
brought to
have + pp
-ing form
bringing to
continuous
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